AC Milan make contact with Nicklas Bendtner’s agent

AC Milan are ready to offer
Nicklas Bendtner an escape route out of Arsenal after opening talks with his agent over a move.

Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner has moved closer to a transfer to AC Milan (Picture: EPA)

Denmark international Bendtner was told he can quit Arsenal last summer, after failing to break into Arsene Wenger’s first-team plans, but has struggled to complete a permanent transfer away.

The 24-year-old spent last season on-loan at Sunderland, in a deal agreed with just hours of the transfer window left, but despite scoring eight goals in 24 appearances in the North East, he was told he had no long-term future at the club.

Bendtner, who was omitted from Arsenal’s pre-season plans this summer, has been training alone at their London Colney base while trying to agree terms on a transfer, but he has already turned down moves to Galatasaray and Benfica.

However, long-term admirers AC Milan have now thrown their hat into the ring, and have made contact with Bendtner’s agent to discuss personal terms, before lodging a £5 million bid.

Milan are on the look out for a replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and while they are happy with the proposed fee, they are unwilling to meet Bendtner’s demands of £70,000-a-week.

Bendtner currently earns £50,000-a-week at Arsenal, but wants a pay rise at his new club, as well as conditions that allow him to return to London at least once a week, to visit his son.

Those are conditions that most interested parties are refusing to meet, but Milan are continuing talks this weekend in a bid to try and find an agreement.

Bendtner, who has 20 goals in 52 games for Denmark, has already been promised his trademark 52 shirt at the San Siro.